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Lydia M Staisch, Ph.D.

Lydia is a Research Geologist with the GMEG Science Center, working on structural geology, tectonic geomorphology, geologic mapping, and seismic hazards in the Pacific Northwest. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 2014, where she focused on the deformation history of the northern Tibetan Plateau and coseismic landslide hazards in the Himalayas.

Afterwards, Lydia was a Mendenhall Postdoctoral Fellow with Brian Sherrod at the Earthquake Science Center. Her general research interests are in continental deformation and landscape evolution. She tends to employ a multi-faceted approach in her research, including field work, structural-stratigraphic analysis, geochemical analysis, geodynamic modeling, remote sensing and geodesy.

Professional Experience

  • 2017-present, Research Geologist, United States Geological Survey

  • 2014-2017, Mendenhall Postdoctoral Fellow, United States Geological Survey

  • 2009-2014, Graduate Student Research Assistant, University of Michigan

  • 2009, Field Assistant in Salta Province, Argentina, University of Arizona

  • 2008, Field Geologist, GeoCorps America Intern, Klamath National Forest, CA

Education and Certifications

  • 2014  Ph.D., Geological Sciences, University of Michigan

  • 2008  B.A., Geology, Carleton College

Science and Products

Sensitivity testing of marine turbidite age estimates along the Cascadia subduction zone

 9 earthquakes ruptured the full Cascadia subduction zone (CSZ) in the past 10 kyr, a hypothesis that relies on concurrent turbidite deposition generated from seismogenic strong ground motion along the ∼1100 km margin. Correlation of marine turbidite deposits is based on petrophysical characteristics and radiocarbon geochronology, the latter of which relies on a series of age corrections and calib
Authors
Lydia M. Staisch
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Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Major reorganization of the Snake River modulated by passage of the Yellowstone Hotspot

The details and mechanisms for Neogene river reorganization in the U.S. Pacific Northwest and northern Rocky Mountains have been debated for over a century with key implications for how tectonic and volcanic systems modulate topographic development. To evaluate paleo-drainage networks, we produced an expansive data set and provenance analysis of detrital zircon U-Pb ages from Miocene to Pleistocen
Authors
Lydia M. Staisch, Jim E. O'Connor, Charles M. Cannon, Christopher Holm-Denoma, Paul K. Link, John Lasher, Jeremy A. Alexander
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National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center

Arc versus river: The geology of the Columbia River Gorge

The Columbia River Gorge is the Columbia River’s long-held yet evolving passage through the volcanic arc of the Cascade Range. The globally unique setting of a continental-scale river bisecting an active volcanic arc at the leading edge of a major plate boundary creates a remarkable setting where dynamic volcanic and tectonic processes interact with diverse and energetic fluvial processes. This th
Authors
Jim E. O'Connor, Ray Wells, Scott E. K. Bennett, Charles M. Cannon, Lydia M. Staisch, James L Anderson, Anthony Francis Pivarunas, Gabriel Wells Gordon, Richard J. Blakely, Mark E. Stelten, Russell C. Evarts
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Volcano Hazards Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Volcano Science Center

Swipe left on the “big one”: Better dates for Cascadia quakes

Improving our understanding of hazards posed by future large earthquakes on the Cascadia Subduction Zone requires advancements in the methods and sampling used to date and characterize past events.
Authors
Jessie Kathleen Pearl, Lydia M. Staisch
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Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Earthquake Science Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Toward an integrative geological and geophysical view of Cascadia subduction zone earthquakes

The Cascadia subduction zone (CSZ) is an exceptional geologic environment for recording evidence of land level changes, tsunamis, and ground motion that reveals at least 19 great megathrust earthquakes over the past 10 kyr. Such earthquakes are among the most impactful natural hazards on Earth, transcend national boundaries, and can have global impact. Reducing the societal impacts of future event
Authors
Maureen A. L. Walton, Lydia M. Staisch, Tina Dura, Jessie Kathleen Pearl, Brian L. Sherrod, Joan S. Gomberg, Simon E. Engelhart, Anne Trehu, Janet Watt, Jonathan P. Perkins, Robert C. Witter, Noel Bartlow, Chris Goldfinger, Harvey Kelsey, Ann Morey, Valerie J. Sahakian, Harold Tobin, Kelin Wang, Ray Wells, Erin Wirth
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Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Core Preparation and Analysis Laboratory and Sample Repositories, Deep Sea Exploration, Mapping and Characterization, Subduction Zone Science

The Cenozoic evolution of crustal shortening and left‐lateral shear in the central East Kunlun Shan: Implications for the uplift history of the Tibetan Plateau

The timing of crustal shortening and strike‐slip faulting along the East Kunlun Shan provides insight into the history of surface uplift and may constrain the time at which the Tibetan Plateau reached high elevations. We investigate a series of extensional basins and restraining bends along the Xidatan strand of the Kunlun strike‐slip fault, which provide an ideal setting to unravel the tectonic h
Authors
Lydia M. Staisch, Nathan A Niemi, Marin K. Clark, Hong Chang
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Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Bedrock mapping and seismic hazard assessment at Gold Basin landslide, Washington

The Gold Basin landslide is located along the South Fork Stillaguamish River, within the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in western Washington State. Recent concerns related to slope stability after the 2014 State Route 530 Landslide near Oso, Washington, forced the closure of the U.S. Forest Service Gold Basin Campground in May of 2014. In addition to safety concerns for National Forest vi
Authors
Lydia M. Staisch
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Natural Hazards Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Landslide Hazards Program, Mineral Resources Program, National Laboratories Program, Science and Decisions Center, Geologic Hazards Science Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Crustal structure and quaternary acceleration of deformation rates in central Washington revealed by stream profile inversion, potential field geophysics, and structural geology of the Yakima folds

Post‐Miocene tectonic uplift along fault‐cored anticlines within central Washington produced the Yakima Fold Province, a region of active NNE‐SSW shortening in the Cascadian backarc. The relative timing and rate of deformation along individual structures is coarsely defined yet imperative for seismic hazard assessment. In this work, we use geomorphic and geophysical mapping, stream profile inversi
Authors
Lydia M. Staisch, Richard J. Blakely, Harvey Kelsey, Richard Styron, Brian L. Sherrod
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Energy and Minerals Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Mineral Resources Program, National Laboratories Program, Science and Decisions Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Miocene−Pleistocene deformation of the Saddle Mountains: Implications for seismic hazard in central Washington, USA

The Yakima fold province, located in the backarc of the Cascadia subduction zone, is a region of active strain accumulation and deformation distributed across a series of fault-cored folds. The geodetic network in central Washington has been used to interpret large-scale N-S shortening and westward-increasing strain; however, geodetic data are unable to resolve shortening rates across individual s
Authors
Lydia M. Staisch, Harvey Kelsey, Brian L. Sherrod, Andreas Möller, James B. Paces, Richard J. Blakely, Richard Styron
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Energy and Minerals Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Mineral Resources Program, National Laboratories Program, Science and Decisions Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Subduction Zone Science

The story of a Yakima fold and how it informs Late Neogene and Quaternary backarc deformation in the Cascadia subduction zone, Manastash anticline, Washington, USA

The Yakima folds of central Washington, USA, are prominent anticlines that are the primary tectonic features of the backarc of the northern Cascadia subduction zone. What accounts for their topographic expression and how much strain do they accommodate and over what time period? We investigate Manastash anticline, a north vergent fault propagation fold typical of structures in the fold province. F
Authors
Harvey M. Kelsey, Tyler C. Ladinsky, Lydia M. Staisch, Brian L. Sherrod, Richard J. Blakely, Thomas Pratt, William Stephenson, Jackson K. Odum, Elmira Wan
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Energy and Minerals Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Mineral Resources Program, National Laboratories Program, Science and Decisions Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Subduction Zone Science

Building a subduction zone observatory

Subduction zones contain many of Earth’s most remarkable geologic structures, from the deepest oceanic trenches to glacier-covered mountains and steaming volcanoes. These environments formed through spectacular events: Nature’s largest earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions are born here.
Authors
Joan S. Gomberg, Paul Bodin, Jody Bourgeois, Susan Cashman, Darrel Cowan, Kenneth C. Creager, Brendan Crowell, Alison Duvall, Arthur Frankel, Frank I. González, Heidi Houston, Paul Johnson, Harvey Kelsey, Una Miller, Emily C. Roland, David Schmidt, Lydia M. Staisch, John Vidale, William Wilcock, Erin Wirth
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Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Earthquake Science Center, Subduction Zone Science

Differential uplift and incision of the Yakima River terraces, central Washington State

The fault-related Yakima folds deform Miocene basalts and younger deposits of the Columbia Plateau in central Washington State. Geodesy implies ~2 mm/yr of NNE directed shortening across the folds, but until now the distribution and rates of Quaternary deformation among individual structures has been unclear. South of Ellensburg, Washington, the Yakima River cuts a ~600 m deep canyon across severa
Authors
Adrian M. Bender, Colin B. Amos, Paul R. Bierman, Dylan Rood, Lydia M. Staisch, Harvey M. Kelsey, Brian L. Sherrod
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Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Earthquake Science Center

Below are Lydia's related science projects

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Colorfully shaded map of the seafloor showing the many unique canyons created by nearby rivers.

Cascadia Subduction Zone Database

-a compilation of published datasets relevant to Cascadia subduction zone earthquake hazards and tectonics The following is new (2022) compilation of datasets relevant to Cascadia subduction zone earthquake hazards and tectonics useful for emergency management officials, geologists, and others interested in understanding the unique geologic dynamics that create hazards to communities in the region...
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Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Earthquake Hazards Program, Subduction Zone Science
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Cascadia Subduction Zone Database

-a compilation of published datasets relevant to Cascadia subduction zone earthquake hazards and tectonics The following is new (2022) compilation of datasets relevant to Cascadia subduction zone earthquake hazards and tectonics useful for emergency management officials, geologists, and others interested in understanding the unique geologic dynamics that create hazards to communities in the region...
Learn More
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Physiographic image of the Pacific Northwest

Pacific Northwest Geologic Mapping: Northern Pacific Border, Cascades and Columbia

The Pacific Northwest is an area created by active and complex geological processes. On its path to the Pacific Ocean, the Columbia River slices through a chain of active volcanoes located along the western margin of the U.S. in Washington, Oregon, and northern California. These volcanoes rest above the active Cascadia subduction zone, which is the boundary where the oceanic tectonic plate dives...
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National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, Earthquake Science Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Oregon Water Science Center, Washington Water Science Center, Western Fisheries Research Center
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Pacific Northwest Geologic Mapping: Northern Pacific Border, Cascades and Columbia

The Pacific Northwest is an area created by active and complex geological processes. On its path to the Pacific Ocean, the Columbia River slices through a chain of active volcanoes located along the western margin of the U.S. in Washington, Oregon, and northern California. These volcanoes rest above the active Cascadia subduction zone, which is the boundary where the oceanic tectonic plate dives...
Learn More
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Illustration model of the Cascadia Subduction Zone

Margin-wide geological and geophysical synthesis to understand the recurrence and hazards of great subduction zone earthquakes in Cascadia

The Cascadia Subduction Zone, located in the U.S. Pacific Northwest and southwestern British Columbia, has hosted magnitude ≥8.0 megathrust earthquakes in the geologic past, a future earthquake is imminent, and the potential impacts could cripple the region. Subduction zone earthquakes represent some of the most devastating natural hazards on Earth. Despite substantial knowledge gained from deca
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John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis, Subduction Zone Science
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Margin-wide geological and geophysical synthesis to understand the recurrence and hazards of great subduction zone earthquakes in Cascadia

The Cascadia Subduction Zone, located in the U.S. Pacific Northwest and southwestern British Columbia, has hosted magnitude ≥8.0 megathrust earthquakes in the geologic past, a future earthquake is imminent, and the potential impacts could cripple the region. Subduction zone earthquakes represent some of the most devastating natural hazards on Earth. Despite substantial knowledge gained from deca
Learn More

Compiled onshore and offshore paleoseismic data along the Cascadia Subduction zone

The USGS Powell Center Cascadia earthquake hazards working group compiled published onshore and offshore paleoseismic data along the Cascadia subduction zone, spanning sites from Vancouver Island to the Mendocino triple junction. Evidence for megathrust rupture includes coastal land-level change, tsunami inundation, onshore shaking proxies such as landslides or liquefaction, and offshore shaking p
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Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis

High-resolution airborne magnetic and radiometric survey of the Republic Graben, Okanogan and Kettle metamorphic core complexes, Kootenay Arc and surrounding regions, Northeastern Washington

The Republic survey consists of high-resolution aeromagnetic and radiometric data designed to image the subsurface geology and structure of a large portion of northeastern Washington. These data are intended for rigorous modeling and interpretation of the geology and structure in this region and will be used to evaluate the potential for undiscovered resources and will contribute to USGS and Washi
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Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI)

High-Resolution Aeromagnetic Survey Over Cascade Locks, Oregon, and Surrounding Areas

This data release provides access to a low-altitude aeromagnetic survey flown over a part of the Cascade Range of the US Pacific Northwest, approximately centered over the town of Cascade Locks, Oregon. The Cascade Locks magnetic survey encompasses two large stratovolcanoes of the Cascade Range: Mt. Hood (3426 m) in Oregon and Mt. Adams (3742 m) in Washington. Data were acquired between October 17
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Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Monte Carlo code for manuscript: Sensitivity testing of marine turbidite age estimates along the Cascadia Subduction Zone

This data release includes the MATLAB code used for sensitivity analysis of turbidite age estimates along the Cascadia subduction zone. The code is written for use in MATLAB and datasets are organized as .mat files. Data values are from Goldfinger et al. (2012) and Staisch (2024). Cited works: Goldfinger, C., Nelson, C.H., Morey, A.E., Johnson, J.E., Patton, J.R., Karabanov, E., Gutiérrez-Pastor,
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Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

U-Pb zircon data for Cenozoic clastic and volcaniclastic units deformed along the Gales Creek Fault zone, northwestern Oregon

This data release includes laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) U-Pb zircon geochronology data from four samples collected from fault-bounded bedrock units in northwestern Oregon. Samples were collected from a paleoseismic trench excavated across the Scoggins Valley strand of the Gales Creek Fault and nearby quarry. The trench is located on a ridge top saddle on t
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Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center

Cascadia subduction zone database: compilation of published datasets relevant to Cascadia subduction zone earthquake hazards and tectonics (2022)

In this database, we compile and host several available onshore and offshore geologic, paleoseismic, geophysical, and instrumental datasets along the Cascadia subduction zone. The ScienceBase data release and downloadable map package is accompanied by an ArcGIS online map and StoryMap.
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Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Earthquake Hazards Program, National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Deep Sea Exploration, Mapping and Characterization, Subduction Zone Science

Primary and supplementary data for estimating the the timing of crustal shortening and the initiation of left-lateral shear within the central Kunlun Shan, northern Tibet

This repository includes thermochronologic and geochronologic datasets generated for analysis and interpretation of the faulting history of the Kunlun Shan region of northern Tibet, as well as published timing of fault activity on other pertinent structures in the Tibetan Plateau.
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Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Cascadia subduction zone database: compilation of published datasets relevant to Cascadia subduction zone earthquake hazards and tectonics

As part of the USGS Powell Center working group on Cascadia earthquake hazards, we compile and host several available geologic, paleoseismic, geophysical, and instrumental datasets along the Cascadia subduction zone. The ArcGIS online map and downloadable map package include both raster images and shapefiles. In this Story Map, we outline the features and datasets compiled.

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Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Science and Products